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Quaternary marine ingressions as indicated by hydrogeochemical evidence in the semi-confined aquifer of the littoral of the Río de la Plata, Argentina

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2017

Lucia Santucci ,
Eleonora Carol  and
Eduardo Kruse
Lucia Santucci
Affiliation:
Centro de Investigaciones Geológicas (CIG), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), Diagonal 113 #275, 1900 La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Eleonora Carol*
Affiliation:
Centro de Investigaciones Geológicas (CIG), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), Diagonal 113 #275, 1900 La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Eduardo Kruse
Affiliation:
Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Cátedra de Hidrología General de la Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), Calle 64 #3, 1900 La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
*
*Corresponding author at: Centro de Investigaciones Geológicas (CIG), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), Diagonal 113 #275, 1900, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina. E-mail address: eleocarol@fcnym.unlp.edu.ar (E. Carol)
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Abstract

The Quaternary is characterized by the occurrence of significant climate oscillations that led to noticeable sea-level changes. On the basis of hydrochemical indicators, the origin of the water salinity in the semi-confined aquifer in the region of the middle Río de la Plata estuary, Argentina is determined. Exploration wells were drilled and sediments were sampled for mineralogical analysis alongside water samples collected to determine major and minor ions and environmental isotopes in the aquifer. The Plio-Pleistocene fluvial sands in which the aquifer occurs are mainly composed of grains of quartz, feldspar, and mafic minerals. The water chemistry shows Na-Cl facies with a marked increase in salinity towards the Río de la Plata. The δ 18O vs. δ 2H, Br− vs. Cl−, and δ 18O vs. Cl− ratios clearly trend towards seawater. Minor ions, such as Si, Sr, Li, Se, Br, and Rb, were the result of the prolonged interaction between the water that occurs in the aquifer and the mineral components of its matrix. The hydrogeochemical data show the marine origin of the saline water and that the hydrogeological evolution of the area during the Quaternary is as a result of sea-level oscillations.

Keywords

HydrogeochemistryEnvironmental isotopesPleistocene-Holocene IngressionsMiddle Río de la Plata estuaryArgentina
Type
Research Article
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 88 , Issue 1 , July 2017 , pp. 160 - 167
Copyright
Copyright © University of Washington. Published by Cambridge University Press, 2017 

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